Survey study, 2006
Do menstrual cycle symptoms affect how well people with HIV stick with their medications?
A 12-week study of 54 HIV-positive women found that certain menstrual cycle symptoms got worse at specific times and women were slightly less likely to take their antiretroviral medications during menstrual weeks.
What they did
Researchers interviewed 54 HIV-positive women taking antiretroviral therapy every week for 12 weeks. They asked about 28 symptoms that might be related to either the HIV medication or the menstrual cycle, and asked about medication adherence. Researchers divided each menstrual cycle into menstrual weeks, premenstrual weeks, and other weeks.
What they found
Bloating and cramps were reported more during menstrual weeks. Skin problems and breast tenderness happened more during premenstrual weeks. Tiredness, joint pain, and chills were higher in weeks that were neither menstrual nor premenstrual. Women took their medications 89% of the time during menstrual weeks, compared to 94% during premenstrual weeks and 93% during other weeks. Feeling sad or depressed was linked with not taking medications as prescribed.
What it means for you
The study shows that menstrual cycle changes can affect both physical symptoms and medication adherence in HIV-positive women. Since antiretroviral therapy must be taken consistently to work, these menstrual cycle patterns may affect treatment. The main limitations are the small sample (54 women) and short duration (12 weeks), and differences in adherence between weeks were small.
54
HIV-positive women
12
weeks of observation
89%, 94%, 93%
medication adherence rates by cycle phase
About the study
- Original title
- Symptom exacerbation and adherence to antiretroviral therapy during the menstrual cycle: a pilot study
- Authors
- Patel PN, Grimes RM
- Journal
- Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Survey study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1155/idog/2006/14869
Original abstract
Our objective is to investigate the relationship between drug and menstrual cycle symptoms in HIV+ women receiving antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Interviews were done for 12 weeks with 54 HIV+ women receiving HAART. Patients were asked if they experienced any of 28 symptoms associated with HAART and the menstrual cycle and about HAART adherence. Weeks were divided into menstrual weeks (MWs), premenstrual weeks (PWs), and other weeks. Women reported more bloating (P = .02) and cramps (P = .001) during MWs. Skin problems (P = .08) and breast tenderness (P = .03) were experienced during PWs. Feeling tired/loss of energy (P = .05), joint pain (P = .02), and chills (P = .03) were higher in non-MW/PWs. Women were slightly less adherent during the MWs (89%) than PWs (94%) and other weeks (93%). Feeling sad or depressed (P = .01) was associated with nonadherence. Experiencing certain symptoms associated with both the menstrual cycle and HAART drugs was related with nonadherence.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
Topics
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